Deadspin | NL Central capsules: Can Brewers declare 4th straight division title?

Milwaukee Brewers

2025 file: 97-65 (1st in NL Central)

He gone: RHP Freddy Peralta, 3B Caleb Durbin, OF Isaac Collins, LHP Jose Quintana, RHP Nick Mears

New faces: C Gary Sanchez, RHP Brandon Sproat, SS/OF Jett Williams, INF David Hamilton

Biggest query getting into Opening Day: Is their unwillingness to maintain Peralta due to his pending free company going to price them a playoff spot and/or an opportunity at profitable a World Series? They had an anticipated W/L of 99-63 in 2025, however are projected by a consensus to complete near .500 this season. It appears harsh, however the Brewers are relying on a return to type by right-hander Brandon Woodruff (at 33), and high-percentile growth by fireballer Jacob Misiorowski to anchor the rotation. Christian Yelich, at 34, must play a full season once more — which he is managed in three of the previous 4 years. Jackson Chourio was practically a four-WAR participant at age 20 in 2024. He may take an enormous step ahead offensively this season. So may William Contreras, a two-time Silver Slugger winner whose energy regressed a bit in ‘25. Having Andrew Vaughn round for 150 video games may imply quite a bit, so long as his hitting efficiency in ‘25 wasn’t too fluky. He’s not projected to depart spring coaching with the big-league group, however infielder Andrew Fischer is an effective guess to be useful as a rookie quickly.

2026 outlook: The W-L file is prone to regress, and the Cubs in all probability will overtake them within the division, however the projections for 81-82 wins additionally appear method too low. Too many issues must go mistaken. Still, they are not transferring nearer to profitable the franchise’s first World Series.

Chicago Cubs

2025 file: 92-70 (2nd place, NL Central)

He gone: OF Kyle Tucker, RHP Brad Keller, RHP Michael Soroka, 1B Justin Turner, LHP Drew Pomeranz

New faces: 3B Alex Bregman, RHP Edward Cabrera, RHP Phil Maton, RHP Hunter Harvey, LHP Hoby Milner

Biggest query getting into Opening Day: Will the beginning rotation keep wholesome sufficient, and can the arms miss sufficient bats come playoff time, for the Cubs to make a run on the World Series? The addition of Cabrera by way of offseason commerce can be key right here, as will the potential return of left-hander Justin Steele in some unspecified time in the future. Both have had bother traditionally staying wholesome. The Cubs had good however unspectacular beginning pitching a season in the past, ending in the course of the pack in Fangraphs WAR. Lefty Matthew Boyd led the group in begins (31) and innings pitched (179 2/3) in 2025, making the All-Star group and performing splendidly total. He’s additionally 35 years outdated with an in depth damage historical past. The different projected starters, together with right-hander Cade Horton, lefty Shota Imanaga, and righties Jameson Taillon and Cabrera, even have their very own query marks. For one motive or one other, the Cubs are crossing their fingers for all of them.

2026 outlook: The offense ought to be among the many high 10 (or higher) however how Pete Crow-Armstrong adjusts after a weak closing two months of ’25 can be key. The again of the bullpen is powerful with Daniel Palencia, and so they added 4 new center relievers within the offseason. The Cubs look good, if not nice, and will compete for the World Series in the event that they get some breaks.

Cincinnati Reds

2025 file: 83-79 (third place, NL Central)

He gone: RHP Nick Martinez, 2B/OF Gavin Lux, OF Austin Hays, RHP Scott Barlow, LHP Brent Suter

New faces: DH/3B Eugenio Suarez, 1B Nathaniel Lowe, OF Dane Myers, RHP Pierce Johnson, LHP Caleb Ferguson

Biggest query getting into Opening Day: Do the Reds have the perfect beginning pitching within the league? The reply doubtless relies on how briskly rookies Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder develop. But even when they are not speedy All-Stars, the Reds’ beginning corps completed second in Fangraphs WAR in 2025. Left-handers Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo, together with Hunter Greene, Brady Singer and the rookies aren’t all family names, however they seem to be a formidable bunch — and so they’re all beneath 30 years outdated. Cincy’s competitors for finest rotation contains the Phillies and Dodgers. How Greene comes by means of surgical procedure to take away bone chips in his elbow will matter quite a bit.

2026 outlook: The Reds’ bullpen is nearer to middle-of-the-road and sure will restrict them come October. The offense must get higher, however the lineup figures to enhance if Sal Stewart turns into a middle-of-the-order drive, if Matt McLain rebounds and if Elly De La Cruz takes a step ahead at age 24. None of these are unreasonable asks.

St. Louis Cardinals

2025 file: 78-84 (4th place, NL Central)

He gone: 3B Nolan Arenado, 1B Willson Contreras, 2B Brendan Donovan, RHP Sonny Gray, RHP Miles Mikolas

New faces: 2B JJ Wetherholt, RHP Dustin May, RHP Hunter Dobbins, RHP Ryne Stanek, LHP Brandon Clarke

Biggest query getting into Opening Day: How lengthy is it going to take group president Chaim Bloom to show this factor round? By some accounts, the Cardinals’ farm system ranks simply outdoors of the highest 10, however it is going to take various prospects to carry again the glory days. Oli Marmol is in place because the skipper, and Bloom’s folks have been working the minors and growth. Wetherholt has an opportunity to win NL Rookie of the Year, and Masyn Winn, Lars Nootbaar, Alec Burleson and Ivan Herrera make up a portion of a possible profitable core of place gamers. Matthew Liberatore and Michael McGreevy will be main league starters, although their upside might need limits. Aside from them, anticipate loads of turnover within the subsequent a number of years.

2026 outlook: The Cards gained 78 video games this previous season and possibly can be fortunate to win greater than 68 this time. And it could be worse. A Cardinals group hasn’t misplaced 100 video games or extra since 1908, however this one goes to come back uncomfortably shut — and that is if issues go nicely, comparatively talking.

Pittsburgh Pirates

2025 file: 71-91 (fifth place, NL Central)

He gone: OF/DH Andrew McCutchen, OF Tommy Pham, RHP Johan Oviedo, RHP Mike Burrows

New faces: OF/1B Ryan O’Hearn, DH Marcell Ozuna, 2B Brandon Lowe, OF Jake Mangum, RHP Jose Urquidy

Biggest query getting into Opening Day: Is Paul Skenes nonetheless going to be on the roster the subsequent time the Pirates win a playoff sport? At one time limit, into the second decade of the 2000s, it appeared just like the Pirates would by no means have a profitable season once more. But the Gerrit Cole/Andrew McCutchen groups yielded three straight second-place finishes and postseason berths. It IS potential to win within the PNC Park period. But it has been 11 years now. Pirates proprietor Bob Nutting lastly spent some revenue-sharing dough this offseason, and their lineup is just not unhealthy, probably, thanks partially to the additions of O’Hearn, Ozuna and Lowe. If slugger Bryan Reynolds can bounce again, and if Spencer Horwitz can clear the results of his hamate bone damage, they’re going to rating an honest quantity of runs.

2026 outlook: The Bucs danger losing most of Skenes’ prime if they do not begin competing quickly. Is there any probability they’ll make the postseason this yr? PECOTA and Fangraphs projections say they may end above .500, so sure. If star pupil Konnor Griffin will get promoted and runs away with NL Rookie of the Year, if Bubba Chandler will get sturdy outcomes over a full season, and if Oneil Cruz snaps out of his funk, they may attain the mid- or upper-80s in victories.

–Field Level Media